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Community Resources
community adaptation Resources
Climate change is increasing the risks of flooding and drought on the Levels & Moors and across Somerset as a whole.
The Adapting the Levels team has created resources to support communities looking for strategies to adapt to climate change through Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
Click the ‘Learn More’ link below to access these resources, designed to inform you about climate challenges and opportunities, and to help you to ‘co-create’ a climate adaptation plan for your community.
Businesses
Adapting the Levels will support the business community to adapt to the increased risks of flood and drought created by climate change.
The 2013/14 floods on the Somerset Levels and Moors cost the county an estimated £148 million, much of which was borne by businesses.
As the impacts of climate change continue to worsen, Somerset is facing increased risks from both flood and drought. Effective planning for climate adaptation can avoid many of these impacts, promoting business growth and confidence.
The broad range of expertise and knowledge within Somerset’s business community can also play a key role in developing a shared vision for climate adaptation on the Somerset Levels.
Farmers & Landowners
Adapting The Levels offers advice and funding to landowners to reduce flood and drought risks.
The focus is on developing natural process solutions to flood and drought management.
This approach is tried and tested, for example the Hills to Levels project in Somerset has already created 600+ nature based structures, significantly slowing the flow of water through the catchment. Adapting the Levels is looking at how this approach can be used on the floodplain.
“The Somerset Levels are an ever-changing, largely man-made landscape, and what we see today is a snapshot in its long history. Over the millennia, from primitive times, those who have lived in this unique place, who know how to read its nature and who respect, understand and deeply value it, have learnt how to live alongside the challenges that come with calling this landscape home. The changing climate now requires these same people of the Somerset Levels to adapt again in order to create a new vision for a climate resilient future. ”